Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-09-23
WHO is TO BLAME?

any uneaslness; sd far as is known. For
some unaccountable reason, his leaving
IN June last aroused suspicious, and as
soon as it was known that he was safe
~ away, Investigations commenced,
that is. the county commissioners were
called together and held a prolonged
secret session. What their deliberations
and searches revealed, the public was
anxious to know. Their curiousity was
so far gratified that they were allowed
to hear other rumors, that there was a
shortage of nearly $4,000 in the treasur-
er's accounts. OF course it was not pre-
sumed that the taxpayers cared to know
anything this investigation revealed
For instance, it would not have inter.
ested them to know, if the first six
months of the treasurer's elective term
showed a shortage, nor how much thad
increased at the end of the first year,
then again IN 18months and two years.
All this was no concern of the taxpay-
ers, of course. They had elected COM
missioners whose business it was, to
examine the treasurers books at each
Of these periods, but if they made re-
port thus in detail, the dear people
might inquire of them why they had SO
utterly failed to perform their sworn
duty. They therefore concluded, it was
best to lump the whole thing. They
carried this out fully when they allowed
the territorial examiner to leave with
out investigating. Let the taxpayers
understand that Jerauld county would
not have been called on to foot this bill,
as they were for the private investiga-
ton Of the commissioners. The COM
missioners claim that the treasurers
bondsmen are liable for the deficiency.
So they would have been, but for the
carelessness of the men elected to look
after the county's interests. The facts,
as 1 have stated them above, have
been generally received and accepted
throughout the county. According to
these facts the commissioners are
plainly responsible for the predicament
in which our treasurer left us.
But appearances are very deceptive.
The people have been very unjust to
our county commissioners, that is, our
present board of county commissioners.
It remained for the Alpena Journal to
make this startling discovery. Of
course startling things are expected
from the editor of that paper. There
has been great cry against the Herald
in some of our county papers, for pre-
Stunning to mention Treasurer Williams
name in connection with the defalca-
ton. So far as I have been able to
Judge, the Herald has treated Mr.. Will
liams with great consideration. In fact
Mr.. Editor, think, you have been in
clined to take all responsibility for the
trouble from Mr.. Williams and place it
on Others shoulders. No taunt nor slur
has appeared in the clean columns Of
the Herald that could hurt the feelings
of his family or friends. What do we
see in recent number of the Alpena
journal? In what manner does that
paper refer to our late treasurer? It
calls him in terms of reproach, "a Great
ure.''. How consistent his professed
friends are! Now let the True Repub-
lican raise it's voice in holy horror
against the dastardly outrage - Treas
urer Williams "a creature?" So says
the Alpena Journal, and Durham tells
the truth, of course.
The people of the county will be in
terested in knowing who is held up by
the Afpena Journal, as being respons-
ible for the defalcation. Hear! Hear!
It is no less person than DIR. Melcher,
of Crow Lake. I feel like exclaiming
with the Irishman, Mother of Noses
| What a discovery But you will say:
allow is DR.. Melcher responsible? He
voted to make MIR. Williams our first
treasurer, and by this act, according to
the Alpena Journal, he is responsible
for the defallation. The reasoning is
Dunhams, and, Oh, shades of darkness!
Don't the people know that his reason
ing is good? 1t might be said, that DR..
Melcher acknowledges having made
Mr.. Williams our first county treasurer,
| but claims, it was justifiable, as MIR.
| Williams was then an honest MAN.
And further, the DR.. says, it he had re-
NAMED commissioner, Mr.. Williams
would still be an honest treasurer, De-
cause his books would have been exam
| ined at the end Of each six months, as
required by law, and there would have
been no opportunity for the treasurer
10 fall behind in his accounts.
Durham further lays the responsio-
i1itv Of the defalcation to sore eadlsm.
How came this sore-headism to exist?
| Does he recall his responsibility Tor IL?
Let us 90 back to our first county con
vention, Does Dunham remember the
I